Wire straightening, crimping, and cutting machine.



0. W. BENSTER.

WIRE STRAIGHTENING, GRIMPING, AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED 11017.23, 1908.

1,040,493. Patented 001;. 8, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ml 10/ N0 /20 M4 MT/V'SSEj O. W. BENSTER.

WIRE STRAIGHTENING, GRIMPING, AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.23,1908.

O. W. BENSTER.

WIRE STBAIGHTENING, CRIMPING, AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MT/VE55E5.

W42 W M al alh- 0. W. BENSTER.

WIRE STRAIGHTENING, GRIMPING, AND CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1908.

1,040,493. I Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

4 8HEBTS8HBET 4.

. OLIN W. BENSTER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

WIRE STRAIGHTENING, CRIMPING, AND CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed November 23, 1908. Serial No. 464,130.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIN W. Bnns'rnn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Wire Straightening, Crimping, and

Cutting Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact.

description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,;

and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to wire working mechanism, and particularly tomeans for straightening and crimping one or more threads of wire, andthen cutting the same in sections of predetermined length.

An object of my invention is the provision of a machine of this class,which is adapted to successively act on different ones of a plurality ofwire threads fed thereto whereby to intermittently sever sect-ionstherefrom at predetermined periods and which is especially designed foruse in connection with wire-fabric looms, or the like, into whichsections of wire are intermittently fed during the weaving operation,but is not restricted to such use.

A further object of my invention is the provision, in combination with acontinuously feeding Wire, of a wire-cutting mechanism, the cutter partsof which are automatically actuated to move with the wire being severedduring the cutting operation to prevent an interruption of the wire feedduring the severing or a buckling of the wire thread should the feedthereof be continuous during such operation.

as the operation, construction and arrangement of the parts of apreferred form there I of are fully described in the followingspecification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodyingmy invention, withportions thereof broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof withportions broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of thecuttingmechanism lookin' forward from the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with aportion broken away. Fig. t is a vertical section of the cuttingmechanism on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are partial sectionson the lines 55 and 66, respectively, in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an enlargedrear elevation of a portion of the cooperating knives of the cutter.Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged front and inner side elevations of the headof the right oscillatory standard of the cutting-mechanism, with theknifeholding block removed from the former. -Fig. 10 is an enlargedvertical section on the line 1010 in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is an enlargedtransverse section of one of the straightening roll shafts, with a roll.partly in section thereon. Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 inFig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of the crimped-wirestraightener with a portion in vertical section on the line 1313 inFig. 1. Fig. 14 is an enlarged rear elevation of an end portion of thecrimped-wire straightener. Fig. 15

is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken in a vertical planewith the shaft of one of the upper wire-straightening rolls, as on theline 1515 in Fig. 1, with portions broken away. Fig. 16 is an enlargedinner elevation of one of the straightening-roll adjusting parts. Fig.17 is a section on the line 1717 in Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a section on theline 18-18 in Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is an enlarged plan of a portion of oneof the conduits into which the several sections of wire are fed, with aportion thereof in central horizontal section. Fig. 20 is across-section on the line 20-20 in Fig. 19. Figs. 21, 22 and 23 are end,plan and side views, respectively, of the trou h into which the severalwire sections are deposited: and Fig. 24 is an enlarged plan of aportion of the knife operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 30 designates a table or horizontal portionof the machine frame, which is supported by legs 31 and has the uprightsor framesides 32, 32 rising therefrom in transversely spaced relation,in which the ends of a set of lower feed and straightening-roll shafts33 are suitably journaled. Mounted on each of these shafts are aplurality of peripherally grooved rolls 34:, each of which preferablycarries one or more internal pawls 35 adapted to engage notches 36 inthe roll-shaft, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to cause the rolls torotate with the shaft when the latter is rotated in one direction and topermit a free differential rotation of. the rolls thereon in the samedirection. The purpose of this is to cause a roll to be positivelyrotated at a predetermined speed by its shaft, and to permit such rollto rotate faster than its shaft should the feed of the coacting wirethread.

a be quickened by any cause" An upper set of feed andstraightening-rolls 37 is carried by shafts 38 intermediate the verticalplanes of the shafts 33, which shafts 38 are journaled at their ends inbearing-blocks 39. These bearing-blocks have vertical adjustment inguide-ways 40 of carrying-members40 (see Figs. 15, 16, 18), which arepivotally suspended from between lugs 41 projecting inwardly from theframe-sides 32, 32 to adapt them for swinging adjustment longitudinallyof the shafts. The blocks 39 are vertically adjusted in their respectiveguide ways by adjusting-screws 42, which are-threaded through lugs 40 atthe upper ends of the members 40 and have their lower ends attached to'subjacent lugs 39 projecting from said blocks, as shown. The shafts 38at one end have end-thrust bear ings in the .blocks 39 at such end, andthe members 40 carrying these blocks are shown as having theirhorizontal swinging adjustment controlled by adjusting-screws 43, whichare threaded through the associated frame-side 32 and have their innerends thrust against said members inopposition to the thrusts oftheshafts'38 on said blocks, see Figs. 1 and 15. 1

The shafts 33 and 38 project beyond the frame-side 32 opposed to the onethrough which the screws 43 pass, and carry .beltpulleys at such endsaround which a belt 44 passes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.. This belt isdrivenby a pulley 45, which is carried by the shaft 54, and also passesover an idler-pulley 47 carried by a shaft 48, which has one, endjournaled in the contiguous frame side 32 and its other end journaled inan outboard bearing 49, Figs. 1 and 2.

A drive-shaft 46 isjournaled in pedestalbearings 50, 5O rising fromopposite side portions of the table 30 in advance of thestraightening-mechanism and carries a large belt-pulley 5l at one endand a crim ingroll 52 intermediate said bearings. 15 cooperatingcrimping-roll 53 is carried below the roll 52 by ashaft '54, the ends ofwhich are journaled in the pedestals 50. The rolls 52 and 53 are causedto rotate in unison by meshing-gears 55 carried by their shafts,

see Fig. 1.

Mounted on the. table 30 in advance of the crimping-rolls are the twouprights 56, 56, Which-are spaced transversely of the table andconnected at their tops and near their bottoms by horizontal bars orstrips 57, 57 respectively, seeFigs. 1, 2, 13 and 14. Sets of spacedarms 58 are pivoted to and project downward from the upper bar 57 andupward from the lower'bar 57 in alternating relation, and each carries awire-straightening block 59 at its lower or upper end as the case maybe, which block memes is elongated in the direction of feed of the wirethreads a and is provided with a lon- 1 tive to a horizontal plane as itmaybe necessary to take the bow out of the wire after leaving thecrimper, each is pivoted to its arm 58, as at 60, and acted on byadjustingscrews 61, 61, which diagonally pass through the arm 58 andbear on the block on opposite sides of such. arm, as shown.

Adjusting-screws 62 are carried by strips.

63, which connect the side edges of the up-- rights 56 to the rear ofand in advance of the arms 58, ahd coact at their inner ends with saidarms 58 at one side of their verti-' cal axes to enable said arms to beturned on their pivots by a loosening of one screw and a tightening ofthe other, whereby to permit a horizontal shifting of the blocks 59, seeFigs. 13 and 14. 1

Disposed in advance of the table 30 at either side of the machine arethe two standards 64, 64, each of which is pivoted at its base tofloor-brackets 65, to adapt it to have forward and backward swingingmovements, and -carries a head 66 at its upper end. The heads 66 arerigidly connected by albar 67, the ends of which are suitably se curedwithin openings, 68 (Fig. 9) in said heads. This bar has the stationaryknifeplate 69 and the elongated-block 70 bolted to its front side, withthe knife interposed be- -tweenthe bar and block, as shown in Fig. 4;

The knife 69 has its upper edge projected Q above the bar 67 andprovided with notches 71 through which the wires (2 are intended topass, said notches each having a side Wall beveled, as shown at 71,Figs. 6 and 7, to

provide a forward cutting-edge. The block 0 has the rear portion of itstop longitudinally milled orcut-away to form a guideway. in which thelower edge of the longitudinally reciprocatory bar 72 rests, see Fig. 4,the ends of which bar work through openings 73 (Fig. 9) in the heads 66,which openings are shown as carrying ball-bearings 74 (Figs. 8 and 9) inthe walls thereof. A knife-plate'7 5 is attached to the rear face of thebar 72 and has its lower edge, which projects below said bar, inshearing engagement with the upper forward edge portion of thelowerstationary knife 69 and provided with notches 76, which register withthenotches 71 in said lower knife and have one wall beveled, as shownat7 6, Fig. 6, to form shearing edges in opposition to the wire threadspassing therethrough normally lie, thus preventing a Wire from beingsevered except when raised into the path of movement of the associatedshearing edge of the upper knife. The block is provided with openings 77in register with the notches 71 of the lower knife through which thewires pass. The heads 66 are shown as having removable parts 66, seeFigs. 4 and 9, which form one Wall of the openings 73 through which theends of the upper knife bar 72 Work, thus enabling an adjustment of thebearings provided for such bar and also facilitating an assembling ordisassembling of the parts.

Mounted in the rear of the knives 69 and 75 are a plurality ofvertically-reciprocatory hammers 78, which work through longitudinalslots or openings 79 provided in horizontal guide ledges 79, 7 9, seeFigs. 1, 4 and 5, the former of which projects from the movable knife75, while the latter is attached to the fixed knife-bar 67. The slot inthe lower ledge 79 is provided with inwardly projecting spurs .79 whichspace the hammers apart, as shown in Fig. 5. The hammers 78 have theirupper ends forked to receive a guide-flange 80, as shown in Fig. 4,which flange projects downwardly from the strip 81 connecting the heads66. These hammers correspond in number to the number of notches in theknives, one being disposed to the rear of each notch, and are providedwith eyes 82 through which the wire threads pass. The lower end of eachhammer is provided with a foot or rearward extension 83, which projectsover a roll 84 in position to be engaged and raised by one of a seriesof pins 85 carried by said roll at each revolution of such pin with theroll. The purpose of lifting the hammers 78 is to raise their respectivewires from the clearance space in the notches 71 of the lower knife upinto the path of movement of the cutting edges of the upper knife tocause a severing of the wires when the upper knife is reciprocated. Thepins 85 are arranged in spiral form around the roll 84, or in suchmanner that the hammers are lifted one at a time and in successive orderfrom one end to the other of the roll, as is hereinafter more fullydescribed. The roll 84 is carried by a shaft 86, the ends of which arejournaled in bearings 87 in the rear sides of the heads 66, see Fig. 3,and one end of said shaft is projected beyond its bearing and carriesthe two ratchet-wheels 88 and 89, which. are acted on by pawls, ashereinafter described.

The heads 66 and parts carried thereby, which comprise the cuttingmechanism, have oscillatory movements communicated thereto by a pitman90, which is attached at one end to one of said heads, being the left inthe drawings, and carries a mangle-rack 91 at its rear end, which mesheswith a stationary pinion 92 carried at the contiguous end of thecrimping-roll shaft 46. In order to prevent any tendency of one side ofthe oscillatory parts to lag due to the attaching of the actuating meanstoone side only thereof, a shaft 93 has its ends journaled in the lowerportions of the two heads 66 and has pinions 94 fixed thereto neareither end thereof for meshing in segmental racks 95, which are mountedon arms 96 projecting forward from opposite side portions of the table30, see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The arm 96 to the left is supported at itsforward end by a leg 97 and extends upwardly therefrom and attaches to aframe-part 111, while the other arm 96 is secured at its forward end tothe standard 98, see Figs. 1 and 2.

99 designates a rock-shaft, which has its ends journaled in the tops ofthe heads 66 and carries the two relatively angled arms 100 and 101 onthe end thereof disposed adjacent the ratchet-wheels 88, 89 on the shaft86. The arm 100 projects upwardly and rearwardly and has its free endadjustably pivoted to a link 102, which is in turn pivoted at'its rearend to an arm 103 projecting upwardly from the contiguous pedestal 50,thus causing the shaft 99 to have a rocking movement communicatedthereto when the cutter-frame is oscillated. The shorter arm 101 of thepair projects rearwardly in substantially a horizontal plane, and at itsfree end carries a pawl 104, the lower end of which engages the teeth onthe ratchet-wheel. 88, thus causing an impulse or intermittent movementto be imparted to the pin-roll 84 at each forward movement of the cutterparts. The ratchet-wheel 89 is engaged by a pawl 89, (Fig. 2) which isattached to a projecting portion of the contiguous head 66, said ratchetand pawl being intended to serve merely as a means forpreventing aback-turning of the pin-roll 84.

The upper knife 75 and its carrying bar 72 have reciprocat-ory orshearing movements imparted to them at each forward movement of thecutter-parts by reason of a roller 105, which is carried by a verticalspindle within an opening 106 in the bar 72 near its left end, workingin a cam-groove or slot 107 provided longitudinally of the bar 108,which also works through the opening 106 and has the contour of itssidesconforming to that of the groove, as shown in Figs. 1 and 24. In orderto prevent a reciprocation of the bar 72 on a rearward movement of thecutter-parts the cam-bar 108 has its rear end pivoted as at 108 to thetop of a standard 109, which rises from the forward end of the table 30,as shown in Figs. 1 and .2, and has its forward end formed at one sidewith an extension 108", which projects into a horizontal opening 110provided in a registering portion of a frame part 111.- The tension -108to enable said extension to have lateral horizontal movements thereinWorking through the opening 110 at the outer-side of said extension is alock-finger 112 the forward end of which is formed with an abruptoutward enlargement 112 of proper width to combine with the extenslon tofill said opening,.thus preventing lateral movement of the cam-bar whensaid enlarge-E ment is drawn within the opening. The finger 112 iscaused to move laterally with the cam-bar but is permitted to havelongitudinal movement relative thereto by reason of the rear end of thefinger working in the forward end of the cam-groove or slot in the bar.The finger 112 has a rod 114 projectingrearwardly therefrom through anaperture in the knife-bar 72 and carries an ad-- justable nut orstop-member 115 at its rear "end, see Fig-24, which is properly adjusted'to adapt it to be engaged by the knife-bar near t movement with thecutter-parts, thus cause limit of its rearward oscillatory ing a slightrearwardmovement of the rod 114 and attached finger 112 to draw theenlargement 112 into the opening 110 to lock the cam-bar against lateralmovement on the return or forward stroke of the cutter-parts. I

125 in a bar 125 (see Fig. 10), which ex- When the cutter-parts are nearthe limit of ejectment of its enlarged end from the opening 110, thuspermitting the cam-bar to have a lateral movement within the opening onthe rearward stroke of the cutter parts. With this in mind it will beapparent that the knife-bar 7 2 will be reciprocated or have wirecutting movements imparted thereto only on the forward stroke of thecutterparts, as during such movement the cam-bar 108 is held rigid bythe locking engagement of the lock-finger 112 therewith so that when theroll 105 passes through the offset or cam portion of the groove 107 theknife-bar will be caused to reciprocate in its bearings, whereas on therearward movement of the cutter-parts, the lock-finger stands inreleased position relative to the cam-bar and permits an oscillation ofsuch bar as the roll follows the cam-groove therein instead of effectinga reciprocation of the knife-bar 72.

In order to brace the cutter-parts in opposition to the cuttingmovements of the knifebar 72, I' provide the outer side of the head 66,which is disposed adja'centthe cam-bar 108, with the outwardlyprojecting vertically spaced arms 116, 116, which form guides betweenwhich a U-shaped yoke member 117 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment,as shown in Fig. 3. A second U- shaped member 118 has its legs embracingand secured to the outer sides of the arms 116 and at its loop-endcarries an adj ustingscrew 119, which is engaged at its inner endvtinued forward movements.

to the loop end of the adjustable yoke 117 tofacilitate an adjustmentthereof. Mounted onvertical spindles in horizontally spaced relationbetween the legs of the adjustable yoke member 117 are'the rolls 120,between which a bar 121 passes in contact with both, as shown in Figs. 1and 3. This bar is shown as having its ends projected inwardly and onerigidly secured to the top of the standard 109 and the other end securedto the frame part 111, see Fig. 1. It is thus apparent that thecutter-parts are rigidly braced transversely of the machine by the rolls120 working against the opposite edges of the bar 121, which is in turnrigidly carried by the frame.

The wire threads a, after; passing through the cutter-mechanism, enterregistering conduits by which they are guided in their con- Each ofthese conduits comprises a mouth-piece 122, which is pivoted at its rearend to a shaft 123, connecting the heads 66 of the cutter-mechanism, andhas its forward-end telescoping within a stationary tube 124 to adaptsuch end of the mouth piece to have forward and backward movementswithin the tube as the cutter-parts oscillate. Each tube .124 is mountedfor vertical movements in a notch tends transversely of the machine andhas its opposite ends attached to the standard 98 and frame-part 111,The tubes 124 extend forward from said b'ar,.through vertically disposedslots 126 in the sides of a rectangular frame 126 (Fig. 10), which isalso supported at its ends by the standard 98 and frame-part 111. Theframe 126 has its bottom and top'open and has a plurality of blocks 127mounted for vertical movements therein, see Figs. 1 and 10, through eachof which one of the tubes 124 projects having a close fit therein. Thetubes 124 are projected some distance beyond the front of the frame 126and such-extended portions are provided in their bottoms withlongitudinal slots 128 (Fig. 19) to permit the wire sections to droptherefrom when severed from their threads. This forwardly projected endportion of the tube 124 is incased by a larger tube 129, which isintended to turn freely thereon, and is provided in one side thereofwith a longitudinal slot 130, which may be moved into register with theslot 128 in the inner tube by a turning of the tube-129. The rear end ofthe tube 129 is shown in Fig. 10 as being projected within the forwardportion of the associated block 127, and as carrying a pinion 131 inadvance of the frame 126. This pinion, when raised with its tube by anelevation of the associated block 127 is adapted to move into mesh witha superimposed rack-bar 132, which is disposed transversely ofthemachine in advance of the frame 126 and has its ends working betweensets of rollers 133 and 134, the former set of which is suitably carriedat the upper end of the standard 98 while the latter set is carried bythe frame part 111, see Figs. 1 and 2. As the tubes 129 are disposed tooclose together to place the pinions 131 in alinement, each alternatepinion is disposed in advance of the next pinion, as shown.

135 desi ates a shaft which is disposed below the ame 126 with its endsjournaled in the standard 98 and frame part 111 and carries a pluralityof cam-disks 136, one of which is disposed beneath each block 127.

Each disk 136 is provided with two camprojections 136, 136, which whenthe disk 18 rotated are intended to successively move into engagementwith a registering lug 137 on the under side of the associated block 127and effect an elevation of the block and the tubes carried thereby forthe purpose of raisin the associated pinion 131 into mesh with therack-bar 132. While the cam projections 136", 136" are spaced the samedistance apart on each of the dlsks for the purpose hereinafterdescribed, the pro ections of the several disks are preferablydifferentially arranged with respect to each other, so that only oneblock is being elevated at a time. The blocks 127 are yieldingly held inlowered position by the action of compression-springs 138, which havetheir opposite end thrusts against said blocks and a plate 139, which isdisposed over the top of the frame 126, see Figs. 1 and 10. Aratchet-wheel 140 is carried at one end of the shaft 135 and is acted.on by pawls 141 and 142, which are respectively carried by arms 143 and144. These arms are loosely mounted on the shaft 135 at the side of theratchet 140, and are connected by rods or links 145 and 146,respectively, to the contiguous end of the shaft 93 carried by the heads66. The end of the shaft 93 projects loosely through longitudinal slots147 in said rods, see Fig. 2, thus adapting the rods to havereciprocatory movements communicated thereto from said shaft only duringthe last portions of the forward and backward oscillatory movementsthereof. It is thus evident that the shaft 135 will have intermittentmovements imparted thereto at the limits of the forward and backwardmovements of the cutter-parts and that the pawls 141 and 142 alternatelyact thereon for such purpose.

The rack-bar 132 is reciprocated at each forward and backward movementof the cutter-parts due to a roll 148 carried at one end thereof workingin a cam-groove 149 rovided in the surface of a bar 150, which Bar has areciprocatory movement on a ledge 151 of the frame part 111 and has itsrear end attached to the shaft 93 of the cutter-.

mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

thus causing it to have forward and rearward movements with thecutter-parts.

152 designates a trough or pan which is disposed in position to receivethe wire sections as they drop from the tubes 124. When the slot 128 isopened by a turning of the slot 130 in the outer tube 129 in registertherewith the forward end of a wire section which is disposed within thetube 124 drops down into the pan 152, while the rear end of such sectionstill remains in the rear portion of thetube 124, thus making itnecessary to rovide some means for drawing the section forward out ofthe tube. This may be accomplished by mounting the pan 152 on rollersfor longitudinal movement on supporting-tracks 153 and connectmg an arm154 on its bottom to an arm 155 on the shaft 93 by a rod 156, thuscausing the pan to be moved forward the requisite distance at eachrearward movement of the cutter-parts. As the forward end of the wiresection lowers it rests on the upper serrated edge of a plate 157, whichis disposed transversely of the forward end of the pan, as shown 1n Fig.21,'thus providing reans which engages the crimps in the section andcauses it to be drawn forward with the pan until its rear end moves outof the tube 124.

The operation of the machine is as follows :The wire threads a, whichare drawn into the machine partially by the action of the crimper rolls52 and 53 and the action of the rolls 34 and 37, first pass between thesets of rolls 34, 37 by which they are straightened and then passbetween the crimping-rolls by which they are crimped as shown. Afterleaving the crimping-rolls the wires are forced thereby through thealining-blocks 59, which act thereon to take the bow out of the wires,which was occasioned by the crimping-rolls, as otherwise the wires wouldbow either upward or downward on leaving the crimping-rolls. The wiresnow feed through the eyes 82 in the hammers 78 and the registeringnotches 71 and 76 in the stationary and movable knives 69 and 75,respectively, thence through the openings 77 in the block 70, andfinally through the mouth-pieces 122 and tubes 124 of the deliveryconduits. On each forward oscillatory movement of the cutter-mechanismthe knife-bar 72 and its attached knife have wire-cutting movementsimparted thereto by reason of the roller 105 traveling in the cam-groove107 in the cam-bar 108, which bar is held rigid by the lockingengagement of the lock-finger 112 therewith. This finger is releasedfrom ,locking engagement with the cam-bar 108 at the limit of forwardmovement of the cutter-parts, due to the knife-bar 72 contactingtherewith, thus permitting the cam-bar to have free oscillatorymovements on the rearward movement of the cutter-parts to prevent acutting movement of the knife-bar 72 during such rear-,

tial movement of the pin-roll 84, which movement, if it is desired tosever a sect-ion of wire from one of the series of threads a at eachforward vmovement of the cutterparts, is sufficient to move one of thepins 85 thereon into engagement with a registering hammer 78, thuselevating a different hammer 78 at each impulse o the actuating pawl104. The elevating of a hammer 78 is so timed relative to the cuttingmovement of the upper knife 75 that a wire car ried thereby lsmoved upinto the path of movement of the associated cutting edge of such knifejustprior to the cutting movement thereof. It will thus be seen that thewires cannot be severed until raised out of the clearance spaces in thebottoms of the notches 71 in the lower knife. As the pins 85 arearranged spirally around the roll 84 it is apparent that the severalhammers 78 of the set will be successively acted on at successiveforward movements of thecut ting parts, thus causing a section to besevered from one of the wire threads during each of suchforwardmovements. As the feed of the wires is continuous the successivesevering of their forward ends at successive operations of thecutter-parts will cause the forward ends of the wires to pro- 'jectunequal distances from the knives, or in other words, the ends of thesuccessive wires are disposed a distance apart equal to the length ofthe forward and rearward stroke of the cutter-parts. The forwardmovements of the'cutter-mechanism are timed to equal the feedingmovements ofthe wires, thus causing the knives to move with the'wiresduring the cutting operation to prevent a buckhng of the wires or aninterruption of their feed during such operation. At the limit of eachrearward movement of the cutter-parts a rearward movement is impartedtothe rods 145 and 146, thus effecting a partial rotation of the shaft135 due to the engagement of the pawl 141 with the ratchetwwheel 140. Asthe-shaft 135 is rotated, the camprojection 136 on the disk 136, whichis associated with the tube 124 into which the next wire to be severedis feeding, is moved into engagement with the In 137 on the bottom ofthe block 127 carrie by, said tube, thus effecting an elevation of said.block. The raising of the block 127 throws the pinion 131 carried by theassociated outer tube 129 into'mesh with the superimposed rack bar 132,which bar is moved simultaneouslytherewithby a movement of the cam -bar'150 in the cam-groove 149 in which the roll 148 at the end of therack-bar travels, which "claims.

movement of the cam-bar takes place on the forward movement ofthecutter-parts. 1

The movement imparted to the rack-bar 132 is sufficient to give theouter tube 129 oneend of "the severed section having dropped rated edgeof the late 157 and on the forward movement of said trough on its track,which movement is communicated thereto from the arm 155 on the shaft 93during the rearward movement of the cutter-parts, is drawn forward so asto free its rear end from the tube 124. The section having beenwithdrawn from the delivery tube, the outer-tube 129 is given a halfrotation to close the delivery slot 128 due to. the elevation of theassociated block 127 at either the next or one of the subsequent forwardmovements of the cutter-parts which communicatesmovement to therack-bar. The closing of the delivery-tube is regulated by the positionof the cam projection 136* on the associated disk 136, as the projection136 elevates the block 127 for the purpose of opening the tube whiletheprojection 136 elevates it for the purpose of closing the tube. It isapparent that the operations just described in connection with one wireare successivelyrepeated in proper order for the other wires.

, I desire it to be understood that my in- ,vention is not limited toany specific form or arrangement of the parts except in so far as suchlimitations are specified in the Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. In combination, continuous wire feeding means, wire cutting mechanismhaving reciprocatory movements longitudinally of .the feed of the wire,and operative at predetermined points in such movements to sever a wire,means for guiding the feed of a wire and normally holding the same outof cutting position, and means for intermittently moving said guidemeans laterally of the wire feed to move the wire into cutting position.

2. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, shearing parts carried by theframe, means movement of the cutter-parts. The forward .into the trough152, it is engaged by the serfor reciprocating the frame, a cam-membercdactingwith one of said parts to impart shearing movements thereto whenthe frame is reciprocated, and means controlled during the movement ofthe frame in one direction and permitting it to move during the movementof the frame in the other direction whereby the shearing-parts arerelatively moved during the movement of the frame in onedirection only.

3. In combination,continuous wire feeding means, wire cutting mechanismreciprocally movable longitudinally of the feed of the wire, cam meansoperative to intermittently impart relativeshearing movements to thecuttingparts of such mechanism, and mechanism operative to inter-'mittently move the feeding wire laterally into position to be severed bythe cutting mechanism.

4. In combination, means for continu ously feeding a plurality of wires,wire cut ting means, means for intermittently actuating said cuttingmeans, a plurality of 'relatively movable wire guides normally holdingthe wires out of cutting position, and means for moving the guides tosuccessively place the different wires in position to be severed.

5. In combination, a pair of shearingparts, wire-carrying membersmovable transversely of said parts, means for feeding wires through saidmembers, means for successively moving different of said members toplace the wires carried thereby in position to be severed by theshearing-parts, and means for imparting relative shearing movements tosaid parts.

6. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, shearing-parts carriedthereby, a plurality of wire-carrying members movable transversely ofsaid part-s, said members normally maintaining the wires out of positionto be severed by the shearing-parts, means for moving the frame, meansfor relatively moving the shearing-parts when the frame is moved, andmeans for successively moving said members to place their wires inposition. to be severed by the shearing-parts and to lower them fromsuch position when severed.

7. In combination, a reeiprocatory frame, shear-parts carried by theframe, means for feeding a plurality of wires to said parts, means forrelatively moving said parts at predetermined points in the movement ofthe frame, a movable member associated with each wire and normallymaintaining the wire out of cutting position, and means for successivelymoving said members during the movements of the frame to place the wiresin position to be severed.

8. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, shear-parts carried by theframe, means for reciprocating the frame, means for working theshearing-parts during the movements of the frame in one direction, meansfor feed- 'inga plurality of wires through the frame,

and means for successively moving the wires into position to be severedby the shear-parts.

9. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, shear-parts carried by theframe, means for reciprocating the frame, means for relatively movingthe shear parts during a reciprocation of the frame, means for feeding aplurality of wires'through the frame, a plurality of members movablycarried by 'the frame and through which" the wires pass, and rotarymeans intermittently actuated during the reciprocatory movements of theframe to effect successive movements of said members to move their wiresinto position to be severed by the shear-parts.

10. In combination, two knives capable of relative longitudinal shearingmovements and having registering notches in the shearing portionsthereof, means for feeding wires through such registering notches,

means for normally guiding the wires through the notches of only oneknife and intermittently movable to direct the wires into cuttingposition within the registering notches, and mechanism for lmpartingrelative shearing movements to the knives.

11. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, a relatively fixed and arelatively movable knife carried by the frame, said knives havingcooperating shearing-teeth, the teeth of one knife only partiallylapplng the teeth of the other knife to form a clearance space for wiresfed therethrough, means for reciprocating the frame, means for acting onthe movable knife to move it during the movements of the frame in onedirection, a member associated with each wire fed to the knives tonormally retain it in the clearance space therein, and means forintermittently moving said members to successively move the wirescarried thereby into position to be severed by the knives.

12. In combination, a reciprocatory frame, a fixed knife and a movableknife carried by the frame, means for reciprocating the frame, anoscillatory bar having a camgroove therein, a roller carried by themovable knife and working in said cam-groove to reciprocate the knifewhen the bar is fixed, and means controlled by the movements of theframe for locking the bar in fixed position during one direction ofmovement of the frame and releasing it to permit it to oscillate duringthe movement of the frame in the other direction.

13. In combination, a rcciprocatory frame, shear-parts carried by saidframe and relatively movable transversely of the movement of the frame,means for reciprocating the frame, means for imparting relative shearingmovements to saidparts, and means for opposing the shearing movements ofsaid parts.

14. In a machine of the class described, a wire straightener comprisinga pivotally mounted member having an elongated opening therethrough forthe passage of a Wire to be straightened, and means for adjusting theinclination of said member relative to both a horizontal and a verticalplane.

15. In a machine of the class described, in combination a wire severingmechanism, a delivery conduit throughwhich the severed sections pass,said conduit having inner and outer relatively rotatable parts eachhaving delivery slots which are moved into register by a relativeturning of the parts, and means for intermittently rotating one of saidparts relative to the other to suc cessively open and close thedischarge opening in the conduit.

16. In combination, a reciprocat-ory Wirecutting mechanism, a deliveryconduit associated therewith and having relatively rotatable parts, oneinclosing the other and each provided with a longitudinal slot, andmechanism actuated by movements of the cutting-mechanism to relativelymox e said parts to place said slots into and out of register.

17. In combination, a cutting-mechanism capable of reciprocatorymovements longitudinally of the direction of feed of a wire thereto,wire-delivery conduits leading from said mechanism and each having adischarge opening, a member associated with said conduit and movable toopen or close said opening, and means actuated by movements of thecut-ting mechanism to move said member to open and close the conduitopening at predetermined points in a movement of the cutt-ing-mechanism.

18. In combination, a cutting-mechanism capable of reciprocatorymovements, a delivery conduit having a relatively movable mouth-pieceattached to said mechanism and movable therewith, said conduit havingits tube "for the purpose of moving the slottherein int-o or out ofregister with the slot in the conduit.

19. In combination, a reciprocatory cutting-mechanism having a pluralityof wires fed therethrough, means for cutting difi'erent of said wires atsuccessive movements of said mechanism in one direction, a dc liveryconduit for each wire fed to said mechanism, said conduits comprisingrelatively movable parts having slots provided therein and adapted to beplaced into or out of register when said parts are relatively moved, andmechanism for successively moving the several conduits to dischargetheir' respective wire sections when severed by the cutting-mechanism. r

20. In combination, a wire-cutting mechanism capable of reciprocatorymovements longitudinally of the feed of wires thereto,"

means for successively severing sections from diflerent of a pluralityof Wires fed to the mechanism, a conduit for delivering the severedsections from in advance of the cutting-mechanism, and means forwithdrawing the severed sections from the conduit. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

()LIN W. BENSTER.

\Vitnesses U. W. OWEN, CORNELL SCHREIBER.

